Tom Homan attacked Gavin Newsom after the stabbing death of Todd Stewart in Martinez, saying the California border czar says politics cost a man his life.
President Donald Trump’s border czar tore into Gov. Gavin Newsom after the killing of a 68-year-old Bay Area man in Martinez, calling the death a direct result of California politics. Tom Homan made the comments on Fox & Friends Thursday after the arrest of a suspect accused of stabbing retiree Todd Stewart outside his home.
Homan said the case showed what he described as the danger of sanctuary policies. He argued the death would not have happened without California’s approach to immigration enforcement and said the state had put politics ahead of public safety. “This person’s dead because Governor Newsom and the state of California puts politics — hatred of President Trump — over public safety,” Homan said. He also said federal immigration officials did their job by identifying the suspect, confirming he was in the country illegally and issuing a detainer request.
The suspect, Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, is identified as a 36-year-old illegal Venezuelan migrant who also holds Spanish citizenship. Authorities accuse him of fatally stabbing Stewart on his front lawn last week, and surveillance video reportedly captured the attack. Homan seized on the fact that Iriarte-Valdez had been released the day before the killing after a Newsom-appointed judge cut him loose for violating the terms of home detention in a residential burglary case.
California’s response placed the blame elsewhere. In a statement to the California Post, Newsom’s office said the state takes public safety seriously and that nothing in California law blocks federal authorities from enforcing immigration law. The governor’s office said the federal government has the resources to do its job and should not shift blame to California for ICE enforcement failures. It also said Iriarte-Valdez should face justice for the alleged crime.
“Tom Homan attacked Gavin Newsom after the stabbing death of Todd Stewart in Martinez, saying the California border czar says politics cost a man his life.”
The fight over the Martinez killing lands in the middle of a broader national argument over sanctuary policies, local cooperation with federal immigration agents, and how much responsibility states should bear when people with criminal records are released back into communities. Homan used the case to press that point, saying California’s politics have created a culture that discourages cooperation with immigration authorities. For supporters of tougher border enforcement, the case will look like another warning about repeat offenders moving through the system.
According to the report, Iriarte-Valdez has been in the United States since 2007 and is being held on $1.1 million bail. His criminal record includes an October 2025 arrest in Contra Costa County for DUI and a hit-and-run causing property damage, along with prior burglary counts, receiving known stolen property, trespassing, entering a non-commercial dwelling, loitering, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, and a conviction for violating a court-ordered protective order.
Video of the Martinez attack shows a Cadillac SUV pulling up on a residential street, with the suspect wearing dark jeans, a gray shirt and a protective vest before the confrontation. The footage reportedly shows the two men wrestling on the sidewalk before Stewart is knocked down and repeatedly stabbed as he screams. The case now puts renewed attention on how local, state, and federal agencies share information before a suspect is released. For American readers, the bottom line is simple: public safety depends on whether authorities act fast enough to keep dangerous people off neighborhood streets.
Frequently asked questions
Who is accused in the Martinez killing?
Authorities identify the suspect as Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, a 36-year-old illegal Venezuelan migrant who also holds Spanish citizenship.
What did Tom Homan say about the death?
Homan said the killing would not have happened without California politics and blamed Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration for putting politics over public safety.
How did Newsom’s office respond?
The governor’s office said California law does not block federal Immigration enforcement and argued the federal government should do its job instead of blaming the state.
What happened before the attack?
Homan said Iriarte-Valdez had been released the day before after a Newsom-appointed judge cut him loose for violating home detention terms in a burglary case.
We value your privacy 🍪We use cookies for essential features and, if you allow it, to send you a notification whenever we publish a new story. See our Privacy Policy.
🇺🇸
The Defender Morning Brief
5 stories Americans need to know. 3 minutes. Every morning. Free.
📱 On iPhone: tap the Share icon, choose “Add to Home Screen”, then open TheTrueDefender from your Home Screen and tap 🔔 to turn on notifications. (Apple only allows notifications for saved web apps.)
🔔
Stay Ahead of Breaking NewsGet alerts when major stories break — not every time we publish.Breaking news only. No spam. Turn off anytime.
1Tap the ••• menu at the bottom of the screen, then tap Share(in Safari, just tap Share in the bottom bar directly)2Scroll down the menu and tap Add to Home Screen3Tap Add in the top-right corner4Open TheTrueDefender from your Home Screen, then tap 🔔 Subscribe and choose Allow
📱 Add TheTrueDefender to your home screen for one-tap access.
